Ducati Monster Forum

I'm sure that this could be conducted better. In any event, there is a paucity of info on the subject here.

Wondering if there are any wear-and-tear or fuel economy implications for shifting at a particular engine speed. I have a S2R 800 and allegedly, the limiter kicks in around 11K. So, for instance, if at a constant speed, what RPM range would you comfortably maintain through town?

I appreciate your time.

If you think your limiter is at 11k you are in for a rude (read: throw you over the handle bars) surprise a few thousand RPM earlier.

At a constant speed I try to keep my revs somewhere between 4 - 6k.
Anything below 4k is lugging the engine.
Anything above 6k your getting close to time to shift.

same, i usually keep my rpms around 5k on average when city riding.  if i'm pushing it and doing some canyon racing i'll shift around 7-8, but my rpms generally stay above 4k.

I put my two votes in for 2,500 and 3,500.

With the amount of low-end torque from the 1100DS engine in my bike, it feels prefectly comfortable down that low.

Even rolling on the throttle and accelerating out from 2,500 rpm is no problem.

4.5k is like buttah. '98 M900

11k is for 4v's. not us :(

4.5k is perfect, but 3.5k is also fine. Depends on where you are. I do 3.5k at nights adn 4.5k  during the day time. Theres a lot more up and go at 4.5k then there is at 3.5k, to me atleast. (day time = more cagers)

Any kind of serious load on the motor....sudden hard acceleration, riding uphill, etc.....causes my engine to lug below 4k.  It probably doesn't help that I bring an extra 200lbs to the party. 

+1 on this, that is pretty much exactly the way I choose to keep the RPMs as well.  I like to be within the powerband at all times, even if I am just cruising I will be between 4500-5500, so I am always ready for surprizes and ready to take evasive action.

I normaly keep it at around 3.5-4, but I've been running some experiments on gas mileage so I have a few questions to add

-you guys and gals who are running at around 5+ on a normal basis, what kind of mileage are you getting and what oct. gas do you load up with?
-do you consistently engine brake when coming up to a stop or simply slowing down for a turn?

I've been trying to figure out what happend to my mileage.  I bought the bike at 11k miles and have since put on 6 more.  Started at 45ish around town and now (after finally fixing that exhaust leak) consistently get 39-41.  I can only assume it's the difference in how I've learned to ride since I bought her.  I've been trying to run at a fairly consistent rpm on 89 gas (about 10 tanks worth, all at the above mileage), and I'm gonna switch to 91 soon to see if i can up it a bit. 

Don't mean to thread jack, Domingjm2, just figured I might add to what you had already mentioned.  Oh, and like He Man said, our limiter kicks in at around 9 (maybe a bit over), though i can't be sure as any time I'm on the throttle that hard, the tach is the last place I wanna look. 

i generally cruise around 4K...

it works well on a 2V Duc.

The options on a Duc are awesome.   Nate gave me shit for riding around DIMBY in second gear at 8K on our ride.

So I short shifted the next section and never rode above 5K.

Absolutely haulung ass at 4.5 tops.

(I know I'm rich...sorry for the eyes of the guys behind me...but it does run smooth).

rev to 11K or hang out at 5.   same speed on the road (track is different).

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

there is a very logical reason for lowering rpm.

the bike is less affected by throttle adjustment.

Try it...

ride your favorite loop...

click it up a gear...

it will be more fun.

I ride with my fingers on top of the brake...not over, but on top of...

the result is veeeery good throttle control.

minute inputs easy.

If anything I am a pansy for rolling on.

But for high rpm, it's not jerky at all...it's smoooooth.

so for me it's fun to ride at high rpm.    just not un for those behind on group rides.

(although after vibrating out my shifter control at DIMBY, those in front had to wait while I got fixed, so those in front got screwed too)

more track time needed.  preferably following ducpainter on his new track scoot.

What I don't understand is why Ducatis run lower RPMs than IL4s. I mean wasn't the desmotronic thing invented for higher RPMs?

Great. Just what I was looking for. So the consensus is that there should be no engine wear implications in consistently cruising at 5K compared 3.5K? I always try to be as kind to my vehicles as I can be. However, I don't have any knowledge to support my practices. Thanks all, for the input. Much appreciated.
Jimmy

I think you ment, why our 2 valve ducatis run lower RPMs than I4s. 2vs just stop making power at 8k.
4vs make power up to 11k.
GP bikes make power up to whatever k it is that it makes power at.
Your run of the mill jap bikes have heavy springs to prevent valve float (though its still there in some regard)
Everyone else in motogp is using pneumatic valves.

I'll run my 992ds at anywhere from 3250 to 5000, after that I usually shift just to quiet down the engine! I have noticed that most gears like 3250 but 6th only really likes 3900 upwards (she'll lug and chug otherwise). For city use it's better to be nice and high at 4500 - 5500 then down low at 3200 because sometimes you need to squirt her through.

But at 45 mph, well I'd be happy to cruise at 4000

Reference:

Reg Pridmore in "Smooth Riding -the Pridmore way" suggests on page 59 that Ducati twins should be in the 6000- 8000 rpm range for street riding

Being on the gas keeps the bike in the middle of its suspension range and in the heart of its power band

^ +1

i do almost all of my riding between 5500-6500 rpm.
the bike (s2r1k) is smooth from 3k up, it just feels happy between 5-6k.
also, since no one else has posted it, my rev limiter kicks in right about 8700rpm. cant miss it.

Primarily (for all twins) the reason the RPM range is lower, is that you have 2 LARGE slugs pounding away vs 4 smaller slugs. The reciprocal mass is wicked at higher revs on larger pistons, the piston speeds become unmanageable and tend to tear things apart sooner at stratospheric revs.

Oh, and my RS likes 4.5-5.5 for a sweet spot at any constant speed. 5.5-6.5 for roll-ons or accelerating.

depends on gear and speed or what you consider to be "cruising".  my idea of street cruising is an average 40-50 mph.  in lower gears my rpm limit for a cruise is around 3.5k.  in 4th or 5th it'll be between 5-6k.

I usually stay between 4k and 6k, though I run a little higher on the M620 since the torque peak isn't until 6500 or so.

 [thumbsup]   +1

Maybe I am missing some finer point here.  But from I can see, the Monster 620 generates over 80% of its maximum torque at 3500-4000 RPM.  If you are just cruising around town, traveling at the constant 35-40 MPH, what would be the advantage of running at a higher RPM.  I usually just run at 3500 RPM and it has plenty of pickup with just a flick of the wrist.  Maybe you just like to enjoy the sound of screaming exhuast cans.  ;)

Below are the power curves of the 620 and 800, found on Ducati.com. 

(http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo330/toc30/M620PowerCurve.gif?t=1227685025) (http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo330/toc30/M800PowerCurve.gif?t=1227685072)